It’s no secret Water Valley’s popularity has exploded in recent years. Spend a weekend in the quaint Yalobusha  County town, and see what all the hype is about.

BY AMELIA CAMURATI

 

1. Taste the local flavors.

Yalobusha Brewing Company moved into an 1800’s foundry a few years ago to improve on the budding Mississippi craft beer scene and has since exploded around the South. The brewery hosts tours and tastings on Fridays and Saturdays, bringing in food trucks and live music for a mini-party on Main Street.

Yalobusha Brewing Co.
102 Main St.
(855) 925.6273
info@yalobrew.com

2. Enjoy a day by the lake.

The backwaters of Enid Lake roll up to Water Valley, and many fishers, water skiers and boaters take advantage of it. Some days, you can catch a glimpse of the local hand grabbling group in action on the banks.

3. Take a walk with some local and international art.

Water Valley hosts a biannual art crawl in the fall to show off the collections at its numerous galleries in town. During the rest of the year, you can check out pieces from around the world in Coulter Fussell’s Yalo Studio and Gallery, settled into a narrow former barber shop. A short walk down adorable Main Street is Bozart’s Art Gallery, named for the insane 1920s assessment that the South is “the Sahara of the Bozarts,” a pun on the French term “beaux arts.” Bozart’s focuses on giving customers a place to view and purchase Southern art.

Yalo Studio and Gallery
303 N. Main St.
yalostudio.com

Bozart’s Art Gallery
403 Main St.
473.2484
bozartsgallery.com

4. Visit a flea market with history.

Melonvine Marketplace is a flea market by day and entertainment venue by night. Available for rentals, the former schoolhouse turned market and vendor mall still has the nostalgic feel of its origins with new purpose, bringing more light to South Main Street. The marketplace also hosts sporadic live music opportunities for all ages.

Melonvine Marketplace
817 S. Main St.
facebook.com/Melonvinemarketplace
ccfbmw@hotmail.com

5. Remember the railroad days of past.

Named for who many consider to be the most famous railroader in American history, the Casey Jones Railroad Museum is helping preserve the city’s rich railroad history, thanks to the town’s Lion’s Club.

Casey Jones Railroad Museum
105 Railroad Ave.
caseyjonesmuseum.com

6. Mix Eastern and Western fare for date night.

Nallie’s Place on the north end of town brings the best of two countries to one restaurant with its Thai and American specialties. Perfect for a date night with varying palettes, an order of Gang Pet Kai is available as well as chicken nuggets and catfish.

Nallie’s Place
903 Central St.
473.4691

7. Sing your heart out with a side of pizza.

Known for the best salad bar in town, Hometown Pizza Café serves up pizza, pasta, salad and more every day, with karaoke filling the restaurant on the weekends. Swing by the lunch buffet for all-you-can-eat pizza and salad or order a few Hometown Favorite pizzas for a crowd of hungry folks.

Hometown Pizza Cafe
407 N. Main St.
hometownpizzacafe@gmail.com

8. Grab a bite and some groceries.

Kagan Coughlin and Alexe van Beuren rescued and restored a derelict building half a dozen years ago, and it has since become the most talked-about restaurant and grocery store in Water Valley. Nestled inside the grocery full of local- and state-grown produce, meats and cheeses is the Dixie Belle Café, serving delicious breakfast and lunch. Plus, their take-home casseroles are perfect for taking to that pot luck you had no time to prep for.

The B.T.C. Old Fashioned Grocery
301 N. Main St.
473.4323
btcgrocery.com

9. Taste the Cajun side of Mississippi.

Get a taste of Louisiana in northern Mississippi at the Crawdad Hole Jr. with juicy crawfish, spicy sides, homemade cocktail sauce and New Orleans-style shaved ice in the summer. The menu changes with the season.

Crawdad Hole Jr.
129 N. Main St.
816.4006
facebook.com/crawdadholewatervalley

10. Find a local secret.

Sylva Rena Grocery and Bait Shop is a surprise for weary travelers looking for a quick break on a long road trip once inside. The country store on Highway 32 also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it is especially known around town for its barbecue.

Sylva Rena Grocery and Bait Shop
Highway 32 W.
662.473.9050

11. Have a smile and a burger.

BB’s Diner wants everyone to eat happy. With what some say are the best burgers in town, BB’s offers a family friendly atmosphere where the staff wants to please everyone with their soul food and American classics.

BB’s Diner
411 Martin St.
561.2925
bbdiner.com

12. Grab some truffles for the road.

A chocolate lover’s paradise, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory recently moved to Main Street with its delectable chocolates, covered apples and assorted tasty treats.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
101 Main St.

13. Shop for home decor. 

GG’s Flowers and Gifts offers customers a twist on unique home furnishings, accessories and more at this florist. Pieces are imported from all over the world at this location and their second home in Coffeeville.

GG’s Flowers and Gifts
418 N. Main St.
662.473.1015

14. Spend a little or a lot.

Offering a variety of gifts from jewelry to candles to pottery, and more, the Velvet Glove has something for every price range. Freshly reopened after some renovations, this shop has a treasure for every shopper.

Velvet Glove
307 N. Main St.
662.473-9097

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15. Have a blast from the past.

It’s all about the eclectic mix of vintage at Rip It Up! with books, records, furniture and more. Opened by Tyler Keith and Laurie Stirratt in August of 2015, the shop recently moved to a larger store nearby to accommodate all their wonderful finds.

Rip It Up! Vintage Junk
213 N. Main St.
662.202-6472
facebook.com/junkyoxford

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16. Make a memory with your hands.

Opened by Fussell of Yalo Studio and her partners in New York, YaloRUN Textiles offers sewing and quilting supplies as well as both weekend and week-long workshops to help renew America’s love for homemade crafts, including textile design, silkscreening, letter press and quilting. The shop also has an expansive secondhand materials program, accepting donations from around the world for use in their community’s projects.

YaloRUN Textiles
211 S. Main St.
yaloruntextiles.com

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17. Get a little of everything.

With everything under the sun and then some, Turnage Drug Store was founded in 1905 and has stood more than a century to serve the wants and needs of the Water Valley community. From books and candles to flatware and wedding china, Turnage has it all.

Turnage Drug Store
323 N. Main St.
473-2442
facebook.com/TurnageDrugStore